Saudi consumer spending reached SAR 144.95 billion in July 2026, up 8% from SAR 134.51 billion in July 2025. Point-of-sale spending was SAR 62.85 billion, up 7%, across 1.096 billion transactions on 2.5 million terminals. E-commerce through Mada cards rose 26% to SAR 37.63 billion across 197.6 million transactions, while cash withdrawals from 14,400 ATMs fell 3% to SAR 44.47 billion. There are 70.12 million issued bank cards.
The change involves switching from one channel to another, which means that if you are running a business aimed at consumers you should shift your investments from cash handling to digital acceptance rather than considering both as part of growth.
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Two and a half billion for megawatts
HUMAIN is seeking a fund with an initial target of $2.5 billion to finance 250-megawatt data centres being built with Al Moammar Information Systems, with capacity that could eventually rise to 1 gigawatt. BSF Capital manages the fund, Saudi Investment Bank is soliciting investors, and Capital Market Authority approval is expected to take 2 to 3 months, with financing structured as a mix of debt and equity.
Raising a dedicated fund, instead of using the balance sheet, positions data centre capacity as an investable asset class, with debt and equity allocated to external investors.
Ten billion and a December date
AWS is investing $10.3 billion in Saudi Arabia, including $5.3 billion (SAR 19.9 billion) in a cloud region with 3 independent availability zones launching in December 2026, and more than $5 billion in an AI zone with HUMAIN targeting 50 megawatts by 2028 and deploying up to 150,000 AI accelerators. AWS projects $191 billion of economic value from cloud services by 2033, will train 100,000 Saudi nationals including a free programme for 10,000 women, and is integrating curriculum at 11 Saudi universities.
This commitment applies to both general cloud services and AI. If you manage enterprise IT, plan your regular migration for the December launch instead of waiting for an AI project to justify the move.
Suspended days after recapitalising
The Insurance Authority suspended Allied Cooperative Insurance Group from issuing new comprehensive motor policies with effect from 24 September following violations of supervisory and regulatory instructions, while renewals and all other products continue; the company said it is implementing corrective measures. Two days earlier the Capital Market Authority had approved ACIG's capital increase from SAR 291 million to SAR 300 million, a SAR 9 million raise subscribed by Diar Al-Arabia Investment and intended to meet the SAR 300 million minimum paid-up capital required of insurers.
Conduct is the binding constraint instead of capital. A chief executive at a Saudi insurer should audit underwriting practice before budgeting the next capital top-up.
